A Study on Application of a Heat Pipe to an Evacuated Glass Tube Solar Collector

진공 유리관 태양열 집열기에 열파이프의 적용을 위한 기초 연구

This is an experimental work concerning about an application of a heat pipe to an evacuated-glass-tube solar collector system. A methanol heat pipe with length of 0.7 m and diameter of 8 mm was manufactured and tested to compare its performance with that of freon thermosyphon which was originally used in a solar collector system fabricated at Thermomax Co.. Then this methanol heat pipe was utilized to be one component, i.e. heat transfer element, of the present experimental model of a solar collector. This model was performed the operation test as its absorber plate was irradiated by infrared lamps. The following results were obtained. (1) The methanol heat pipe was showed a stable operation when the variation of axial heat transport was $0{\sim}40$ watts and that of inclination angle was $30{\sim}90^{\circ}$. (2) The heat transport capability of the heat pipe was proved to be higher than that of the thermosyphon, because the heat transport limitation of the latter was occured at about 30 watt. (3) The heat pipe in a solar collector was also showed good performance as it transmitted absorbed energy.